When it’s time to let go of your old mattress, the process of choosing a new one can be pretty exhausting. Especially during this pandemic, stepping out of your house to check your local mattress store and navigating the aisles could seem quite daunting. Going online to browse online shops might seem overwhelming if you don’t know what to look for.
Fret not, here is a trusty shopping guide that will save you the stress and headache from mattress hunting. The following is a checklist for things you should keep in mind and tips for finding the mattress to fit your sleeping needs and lifestyle.
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Set a budget.
When it comes to mattress shopping, expensive isn’t always better. Questions you can ask are: “Should I go for durability? Or should I find something with a mix of comfortability but should also have a friendly price?”
For this, researching is the key. With knowledge of the different types, materials, and brands out there in the market, you may be able to set aside a budget and narrow down the best beds that could cater to your preferences.
Treat buying a mattress as an investment – you will be spending a great deal of time on it, and therefore it should be comfortable and durable at the same time. With this, many mattress brands have quality beds yet at a budget-friendly cost.
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Know your preferred type and material.
Of the numerous options for mattresses out there, it is better to narrow down your choices and know which would be suitable to your liking. These are the common types of mattresses:
- Innerspring Mattress – Also called a “coil” mattress, uses metal springs for inner support. These springs provide stability and support.
- Memory Foam – Considered the most popular mattress, memory foam beds provide excellent comfort and support as they conform to the sleeper’s body.
- Airbed – Great as extra beds for guest rooms and sleepovers, airbeds are padded with foam or fiber and hold air to give them shape and support. The amount of air it has can also be adjusted, depending on the user’s level of firmness.
- Latex– Latex mattresses are mostly made with natural materials, thus making them eco-friendly. Some people prefer latex over memory foam because it is less dense and keeps less heat than its counterpart.
Measure Up
As a mattress purchaser, one factor that you should keep in mind is the size of your bedroom and your sleeping activities, especially if you are co-sleeping.
Since mattresses come in different sizes, you need to purchase one that would not cramp your room. A single bed mattress will be ideal if you stay in a one-bedroom unit, such as a dorm or a studio apartment. However, if you live in a bigger space, or are sleeping with your partner or family, a twin or queen-sized mattress would be a better option.
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Note how you sleep throughout the night.
In picking the mattress that would suit your sleeping needs, you should also consider how you usually sleep. This is about your usual sleeping positions. The standard sleeping positions, and their corresponding mattress matches, are as follows:
For side sleepers
Researchers have found that adults tend to sleep more on their sides, 54.1% of the time, compared to other types of sleepers. A softer mattress would be more beneficial for side sleepers to encourage spinal alignment and provide side pressure relief.
A combination of medium-soft mattresses like a memory foam one is an excellent choice if you want comfort and stable support all night long as you take your snooze.
For stomach sleepers
To be blunt, stomach sleeping is considered one of the worst sleeping positions as it might cause neck and back pain. Further, it can lead further down to the spine as stomach sleepers often shift to an uncomfortable and unnatural sleeping position.
A firm mattress that would hold up well even with weight bearing down on it, such as someone sleeping on their stomach, is the preferable choice. Firmness is the key as it prevents the body from sinking into the bed with prolonged hours of slumber. An innerspring or hybrid mattress can be an excellent pick for stomach sleepers.
For back sleepers
Back sleeping offers the most benefits, compared to side and stomach sleeping. This helps keep the spine aligned, as well as avoids straining in the back. A bed with medium-firm support, such as memory foam or combination type ones, would be the best bet for this type of sleeper.
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Take Your Time
If you would prefer heading out to your local mattress store to check your options, it might be the best time to use your basic senses when shopping – that is, to ensure that you touch, smell, and lie down on your choices before the actual purchase. This would help you make sure that the bed of your choice has the right firmness and material that you need.
If, however, you opt to order online, know that several mattress stores offer a trial period wherein you can return the item if it is not at par with your liking. This “sleep trial” period often lasts for 60 nights and can even extend to 100 days.
Takeaway
Mattresses are everywhere and anywhere, and although hunting for “the one” could be a challenging ordeal, you can surpass this by putting in proper research and ascertaining what you want. The most significant thing to consider is finding the mattress to provide you the sleep you finally deserve.
